Aerosol-generating article including tobacco sheet and aerosol-generating system using the same

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating article including a first portion including an aerosol-generating material; a second portion including a tobacco material in a form of a tobacco sheet; a third portion configured to cool airflow which has passed through the first portion and the second portion; and a fourth portion including a filter material, wherein the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion are sequentially arranged in a length direction of the aerosol-generating article.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating articleincluding a tobacco sheet, and an aerosol-generating system using thesame.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, the demand for alternatives to general aerosol generatingarticle has increased. For example, there is increasing demand for anaerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating anaerosol generating material in aerosol generating article, rather thanby combusting an aerosol generating article. Accordingly, studies on aheating-type aerosol generating article or a heating-type aerosolgenerating device have been actively conducted.

Reconstituted tobacco including tobacco leaves, fine tobacco powder,leaf veins, stems, etc. may be used for a heated aerosol-generatingarticle. Conventionally, the reconstituted tobacco in the form ofstrands or cut tobacco undergoes a cutting process, so fiber bondsinside the reconstituted tobacco are broken. Thus, heat isdiscontinuously transferred between the cut tobacco pieces, resulting inheat loss.

DISCLOSURE Technical Solution

The aerosol-generating article according to an embodiment may solve theproblems of the prior art described above.

However, the technical problem is not limited to the above, and othertechnical problems may be inferred from the following examples

Advantageous Effects

In the aerosol-generating article according to an embodiment, since asecond portion includes a tobacco sheet whose length is continuouslyextended, heat transfer may be effectively performed within the tobaccosheet. Accordingly, a user can feel an excellent smoking feeling withrespect to the aerosol-generating article according to the presentdisclosure.

In addition, in the aerosol-generating article according to theembodiment, since the second portion includes a tobacco material in theform of a rolled sheet instead of cut tobacco pieces, an airflow passagemay be stably secured. As a result, the aerosol-generating article mayhave a relatively low inhalation resistance.

The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those describedabove, and may include all effects that may be inferred from theconfiguration described later.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in which an aerosol-generating article is inserted intoan aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view in which an aerosol-generating article is inserted intoan aerosol-generating device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view in which an aerosol-generating article is inserted intoan aerosol-generating device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing the configuration of anaerosol-generating article according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the configuration of a first portion and asecond portion of an aerosol-generating article according to anembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a cross-section of a second portion of anaerosol-generating article according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating how heat is transferred when a secondportion of an aerosol-generating article includes cut tobacco, accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating how heat is transferred when a secondportion of an aerosol-generating article includes one continuous tobaccosheet, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating air flow in an aerosol-generatingarticle including cut tobacco, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating air flow in an aerosol-generatingarticle including one continuous sheet of tobacco, according to anembodiment.

BEST MODE

A first aspect of the present disclosure may provide anaerosol-generating article including: a first portion including anaerosol-generating material; a second portion including a tobaccomaterial in a form of a tobacco sheet; a third portion configured tocool airflow which has passed through the first portion and the secondportion; and a fourth portion including a filter material, wherein thefirst portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourthportion are sequentially arranged in a length direction of theaerosol-generating article.

In embodiments, the tobacco sheet may have a rectangular shape, and aratio of a vertical length to a horizontal length of the tobacco sheetmay be 10:1 to 30:1.

In embodiments, the tobacco sheet may have a corrugated from or may befolded one or more times.

In embodiments, the tobacco sheet may have a length of 180 mm or more inone direction.

In embodiments, the second portion may include a plurality of tobaccosheets.

In embodiments, the tobacco sheet may include 75 to 85 parts by weightof tobacco leaves, 5 to 20 parts by weight of a moisturizer, 3 to 10parts by weight of pulp, and 3 to 10 parts by weight of a viscosityagent, based on a total of 100 parts by weight.

In embodiments, the aerosol-generating article may have an inhalationresistance of 20 to 60 mm H₂O.

In embodiments, the cross section taken perpendicular to a lengthdirection of the second portion may have at least one closed curveformed by the tobacco sheet,

A second aspect of the present disclosure may provide an aerosolgenerating system including: the aerosol-generating article according tothe first aspect; and an aerosol-generating device configured to heat atleast one of the first portion and the second portion of theaerosol-generating article.

In embodiments, the second portion may include one tobacco sheet in afolded form, and the aerosol-generating device generates an aerosol byheating at least part of the first portion and part of the secondportion.

The means for solving the problem is not limited to the above, and mayinclude all matters that may be inferred by a person skilled in the artthroughout the present specification.

MODE FOR INVENTION

With respect to the terms in the various embodiments, the general termswhich are currently and widely used are selected in consideration offunctions of structural elements in the various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. However, meanings of the terms can be changedaccording to intention, a judicial precedence, the appearance of a newtechnology, and the like. In addition, in certain cases, a term which isnot commonly used can be selected. In such a case, the meaning of theterm will be described in detail at the corresponding portion in thedescription of the present disclosure. Therefore, the terms used in thevarious embodiments of the present disclosure should be defined based onthe meanings of the terms and the descriptions provided herein.

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word“comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will beunderstood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not theexclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms “-er”, “-or”,and “module” described in the specification mean units for processing atleast one function and/or operation and can be implemented by hardwarecomponents or software components and combinations thereof.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those ofordinary skill in the art may easily implement the embodiments. However,the present disclosure may be implemented in various different forms andis not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Throughout the specification, “A and/or B” means at least one of A andB.

As used herein, expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding alist of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modifythe individual elements of the list. For example, the expression, “atleast one of a, b, and c,” should be understood as including only a,only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, or all of a,b, and c.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “over,” “above,” “on,” “connected to” or “coupled to” anotherelement or layer, it can be directly over, above, on, connected orcoupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layersmay be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being“directly over,” “directly above,” “directly on,” “directly connectedto” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are nointervening elements or layers present. Like numerals refer to likeelements throughout.

Throughout the specification, “on” means that a member is placed on onesurface of another member, and includes all cases where a member isplaced in contact with or without contact with another member.

Throughout the specification, “a length direction of anaerosol-generating article” means a direction in which the aerosolgenerated inside the aerosol-generating article moves or a direction inwhich the aerosol-generating article is inserted into a device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 through 3 are diagrams showing examples in which an aerosolgenerating article 20000 is inserted into an aerosol generating device10000.

Referring to FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 10000 may include abattery 11000, a controller 12000, and a heater 13000. Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the aerosol generating device 10000 may further include avaporizer 14000. Also, the aerosol generating article 20000 may beinserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device 10000.

FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate some components of the aerosol generatingdevice 10000, which are related to the embodiments. Therefore, it willbe understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that other componentsmay be further included in the aerosol generating device 10000, inaddition to the components illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3.

Also, FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate that the aerosol generating device10000 includes the heater 13000. However, the heater 13000 may beomitted according to embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates that the battery 11000, the controller 12000, and theheater 130000 are arranged in series. Also, FIG. 2 illustrates that thebattery 11000, the controller 12000, the vaporizer 14000, and the heater13000 are arranged in series. Also, FIG. 3 illustrates that thevaporizer 14000 and the heater 13000 are arranged in parallel. However,the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 10000 is notlimited to the structures illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3. In otherwords, according to the design of the aerosol generating device 10000,the battery 11000, the controller 12000, the heater 13000, and thevaporizer 14000 may be differently arranged.

When the aerosol generating article 20000 is inserted into the aerosolgenerating device 10000, the aerosol generating device 10000 may operatethe heater 13000 and/or the vaporizer 14000 to generate an aerosol fromthe aerosol generating article 20000 and/or the vaporizer 14000. Theaerosol generated by the heater 13000 and/or the vaporizer 14000 isdelivered to a user by passing through the aerosol generating article20000.

As necessary, even when the aerosol generating article 20000 is notinserted into the aerosol generating device 10000, the aerosolgenerating device 10000 may heat the heater 13000.

The battery 11000 may supply power to be used for the aerosol generatingdevice 10000 to operate. For example, the battery 11000 may supply powerto heat the heater 13000 or the vaporizer 14000, and may supply powerfor operating the controller 12000. Also, the battery 11000 may supplypower for operations of a display, a sensor, a motor, etc. mounted inthe aerosol generating device 10000.

The controller 12000 may generally control operations of the aerosolgenerating device 10000. In detail, the controller 12000 may control notonly operations of the battery 11000, the heater 13000, and thevaporizer 14000, but also operations of other components included in theaerosol generating device 10000. Also, the controller 12000 may check astate of each of the components of the aerosol generating device 10000to determine whether or not the aerosol generating device 10000 is ableto operate.

The controller 12000 may include at least one processor. A processor canbe implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or can beimplemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and amemory in which a program executable in the microprocessor is stored. Itwill be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that theprocessor can be implemented in other forms of hardware.

The heater 13000 may be heated by the power supplied from the battery11000. For example, when the aerosol generating article 20000 isinserted into the aerosol generating device 10000, the heater 13000 maybe located outside the aerosol generating article 20000. Thus, theheated heater 13000 may increase a temperature of an aerosol generatingmaterial in the cigarette 20000.

The heater 13000 may include an electro-resistive heater. For example,the heater 13000 may include an electrically conductive track, and theheater 13000 may be heated when currents flow through the electricallyconductive track. However, the heater 13000 is not limited to theexample described above and may include all heaters which may be heatedto a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be pre-setin the aerosol generating device 10000 or may be set as a temperaturedesired by a user.

As another example, the heater 13000 may include an induction heater. Indetail, the heater 13000 may include an electrically conductive coil forheating aerosol generating article in an induction heating method, andthe aerosol generating article may include a susceptor which may beheated by the induction heater.

For example, the heater 13000 may include a tube-type heating element, aplate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-typeheating element, and may heat the inside or the outside of the aerosolgenerating article 20000, according to the shape of the heating element.

Also, the aerosol generating device 10000 may include a plurality ofheaters 13000. Here, the plurality of heaters 13000 may be inserted intothe aerosol generating article 20000 or may be arranged outside theaerosol generating article 20000. Also, some of the plurality of heaters13000 may be inserted into the aerosol generating article 20000 and theothers may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article 20000. Inaddition, the shape of the heater 13000 is not limited to the shapesillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 and may include various shapes.

The vaporizer 14000 may generate an aerosol by heating a liquidcomposition and the generated aerosol may pass through the aerosolgenerating article 20000 to be delivered to a user. In other words, theaerosol generated via the vaporizer 14000 may move along an air flowpassage of the aerosol generating device 10000 and the air flow passagemay be configured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporizer14000 passes through the cigarette 20000 to be delivered to the user.

For example, the vaporizer 14000 may include a liquid storage, a liquiddelivery element, and a heating element, but it is not limited thereto.For example, the liquid storage, the liquid delivery element, and theheating element may be included in the aerosol generating device 10000as independent modules.

The liquid storage may store a liquid composition. For example, theliquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containingmaterial having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquidincluding a non-tobacco material. The liquid storage may be formed to beattached/detached to/from the vaporizer 14000 or may be formedintegrally with the vaporizer 14000.

For example, the liquid composition may include water, a solvent,ethanol, plant extract, spices, flavorings, or a vitamin mixture. Thespices may include menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and variousfruit-flavored ingredients, but are not limited thereto. The flavoringsmay include ingredients capable of providing various flavors or tastesto a user. Vitamin mixtures may be a mixture of at least one of vitaminA, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but are not limited thereto.Also, the liquid composition may include an aerosol forming substance,such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

The liquid delivery element may deliver the liquid composition of theliquid storage to the heating element. For example, the liquid deliveryelement may be a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber,or porous ceramic, but is not limited thereto.

The heating element is an element for heating the liquid compositiondelivered by the liquid delivery element. For example, the heatingelement may be a metal heating wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramicheater, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, theheating element may include a conductive filament such as nichrome wireand may be positioned as being wound around the liquid delivery element.The heating element may be heated by a current supply and may transferheat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element,thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, aerosol may begenerated.

For example, the vaporizer 14000 may be referred to as a cartomizer oran atomizer, but it is not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating device 10000 may further include general-purposecomponents in addition to the battery 11000, the controller 12000, theheater 13000, and the vaporizer 14000. For example, the aerosolgenerating device 10000 may include a display capable of outputtingvisual information and/or a motor for outputting haptic information.Also, the aerosol generating device 10000 may include at least onesensor (e.g., a puff detecting sensor, a temperature detecting sensor, acigarette insertion detecting sensor, etc.). Also, the aerosolgenerating device 10000 may be formed as a structure where, even whenthe cigarette 20000 is inserted into the aerosol generating device10000, external air may be introduced or internal air may be discharged.

Although not illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the aerosol generatingdevice 10000 and an additional cradle may form together a system. Forexample, the cradle may be used to charge the battery 11000 of theaerosol generating device 10000. Alternatively, the heater 13000 may beheated when the cradle and the aerosol generating device 10000 arecoupled to each other.

As an example, the external air may be introduced through at least oneair passage formed in the aerosol generating device 10000. For example,opening and closing of the air passage formed in the aerosol generatingdevice 10000 and/or the size of the air passage may be adjusted by theuser. Accordingly, the amount and quality of smoke (e.g., aerosols) maybe adjusted by the user. As another example, the external air may beintroduced into the aerosol-generating article 20000 through at leastone hole formed on the surface of the aerosol-generating article 20000.

FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing the configuration of anaerosol-generating article 20000 according to an embodiment.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol-generating article 20000 mayinclude a first portion 21000, a second portion 22000, a third portion23000, and a fourth portion 24000, which are serially arranged in thelength direction of the aerosol-generating article 20000. As an example,the first portion 21000 may include an aerosol-generating material, andthe second portion 22000 may include a tobacco material. The thirdportion 23000 may cool airflow that has passed through the first portion21000 and the second portion 22000, and the fourth portion 24000 mayinclude a filter material.

In an embodiment, the first portion 21000, the second portion 22000, thethird portion 23000, and the fourth portion 24000 may be arrangedsequentially in the length direction of the aerosol-generating article20000. Accordingly, the aerosol generated in at least one of the firstportion 21000 and the second portion 22000 may form airflow passingthrough the first portion 21000, the second portion 22000, the thirdportion 23000, and the fourth portion 24000 sequentially. Accordingly,the user may inhale the aerosol from the fourth portion 24000.

In an embodiment, the first portion 21000 may have a length of about 8to about 12 mm, and the second portion 22000 may have a length of about12 to about 14 mm. However, embodiments are not necessarily limitedthereto, and the length of the first portion 21000 and the secondportion 22000 may be appropriately adjusted within a range that may beeasily changed by a person skilled in the art.

In detail, the first portion 21000 may include an aerosol-generatingmaterial. Here, examples of the aerosol-generating material may include,but are not limited to, glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol,dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethyleneglycol, and oleyl alcohol.

The second portion 22000 may include a tobacco material. In the case ofa general combustion type cigarette or a heating type cigarette, forexample, cut tobacco may be used as a tobacco material. However, in thepresent disclosure, the second portion 22000 may include a tobacco sheetcontinuously extending in length. Details of the second portion 22000will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 below.

The third portion 23000 may cool airflow that has passed through thefirst portion 21000 and the second portion 22000. The third portion23000 may be made of a polymer material or a biodegradable polymermaterial, and may have a cooling function. For example, the thirdportion 23000 may be made of polylactic acid (PLA) fibers, but is notlimited thereto. Also, the third portion 23000 may be made of acellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes. However, the thirdportion 23000 is not limited to the above-described examples, and amaterial for cooling the aerosol may correspond to this withoutlimitation. For example, the third portion 23000 may be a tube filter ora paper pipe including a hollow.

The fourth portion 24000 may include a filter material. For example, thefourth portion 24000 may be a cellulose acetate filter. However, thereis no limitation on the shape of the fourth part 24000. For example, thefourth portion 24000 may be a cylindrical type rod or a tube type rodincluding a hollow inside. Further, the fourth portion 24000 may be arecess type rod. If the fourth portion 24000 is composed of a pluralityof segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may bemanufactured in a different shape.

The fourth portion 24000 may be manufactured to generate flavor. As anexample, the fragrance liquid may be sprayed on the fourth portion24000, or a separate fiber coated with the fragrance liquid may beinserted into the fourth portion 24000.

The aerosol-generating article 20000 may include a wrapper 25000surrounding at least a portion of the first portion 21000 to the fourthportion 24000. In addition, the aerosol-generating article 20000 mayinclude a wrapper 25000 surrounding all of the first portion 21000 tothe fourth portion 24000. The wrapper 25000 may be located at theoutermost portion of the aerosol-generating article 20000, and at leastone hole through which external air is introduced or internal gas isdischarged may be formed in the wrapper 25000. The wrapper 25000 may bea single wrapper or a combination of a plurality of wrappers.

As an example, the first portion 21000 of the aerosol-generating article20000 may include a crimped corrugated sheet containing anaerosol-generating material, the second portion 22000 may include atobacco sheet including a tobacco material and continuously extending inlength, the third portion 23000 may include a cooling unit, and thefourth portion 24000 may include a filter material. However, embodimentsare not limited thereto.

The first portion 21000 and the second portion 22000 of theaerosol-generating article 20000 may be inserted into the interior ofthe aerosol-generating device 10000, and the third portion 23000 and thefourth portion 24000 of the aerosol-generating article 20000 may beexposed to the outside of the aerosol-generating device 10000. Inaddition, the first portion 21000 and a part of the second portion 22000may be inserted into the interior of the aerosol-generating device10000. A user may inhale the aerosol while the fourth portion 24000 isput into the mouth. In this case, the aerosol may be generated whenexternal air passes through the first and second portions, and thegenerated aerosol may delivered to the user's mouth through the thirdand fourth portions.

Hereinafter, the second portion 22000 of the aerosol-generating article20000 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the configuration of a first portion 21000 anda second portion 22000 of the aerosol-generating article 20000 accordingto an embodiment. The first portion 21000 may include anaerosol-generating material.

Referring to FIG. 5, the second portion 22000 may include a tobaccosheet. The tobacco sheet may have a rectangular shape in a fullyunfolded state. For example, the tobacco sheet may have a rectangular orsquare shape. However, the present invention is not necessarily limitedthereto, and the shape of the tobacco sheet may be changed as necessary.

In an embodiment, the ratio of a vertical length to a horizontal lengthof the tobacco sheet may be about 10:1 to about 30:1. For example, theratio of the vertical length to the horizontal length of the tobaccosheet may be about 18:1, about 19:1, about 20:1, about 21:1, about 22:1,about 23:1, or about 24:1. As such, the inhalation resistance of theaerosol-generating article 20000 according to the embodiment may berelatively low, and the thermal conductivity of the aerosol-generatingarticle 20000 may be improved. Accordingly, the user may feel anexcellent smoking feeling with respect to the aerosol-generating article20000.

In an embodiment, the tobacco sheet may have a length of about 180 mm ormore in one direction. For example, the tobacco sheet may have a lengthof about 190 mm to about 240 mm in one direction. Here, the length ofthe tobacco sheet in one direction may be a horizontal length, avertical length, or a diagonal length. Preferably, the length of thetobacco sheet in one direction may be the horizontal length of thetobacco sheet. For example, the size of the tobacco sheet may be 230mm×12 mm. As another example, the size of the tobacco sheet may be 190mm×8 mm, but embodiments are not limited thereto. In a case where thelength of the tobacco sheet in one direction is about 180 mm or more, athermal conductivity of the aerosol-generating article 20000 may beimproved. Accordingly, a user may feel an excellent smoking feeling withrespect to the aerosol-generating article 20000.

In an embodiment, the second portion 22000 may include one or twotobacco sheets. For example, the second portion 22000 may include onesheet of tobacco having a size of 230 mm×12 mm or 190 mm×8 mm. Asanother example, the second portion 22000 may include two tobacco sheetsproduced by cutting a tobacco sheet having a size of 230 mm×12 mm or 190mm×8 mm once. In an embodiment, when the second portion 22000 includesone tobacco sheet having a size of 230 mm×12 mm or 190 mm×8 mm, comparedwith the case of including the cut tobacco, the inhalation resistance ofthe aerosol-generating article 20000 may be relatively lowered, and thethermal conductivity of the aerosol-generating article 20000 may beimproved. As a result, a user may feel an excellent smoking feeling withrespect to the aerosol-generating article 20000.

In an embodiment, the tobacco sheet may include 75 to 85 parts by weightof tobacco leaves, 5 to 20 parts by weight of a moisturizer, 3 to 10parts by weight of pulp, and 3 to 10 parts by weight of a viscosityagent, based on a total of 100 parts by weight. In detail, the tobaccosheet may be a reconstituted tobacco containing the components of theweight ratio described above.

In an embodiment, the tobacco sheet may have a corrugated form or may befolded one or more times. Referring to FIG. 5, it may be seen that thesecond portion 22000 includes a tobacco sheet in a form that is wrinkledor folded one or more times. Since the length of the tobacco sheet inone direction is about 180 mm or more, it may be difficult for thetobacco sheet to be contained in the second portion 22000 in acompletely unfolded form. Accordingly, the tobacco sheet may be includedin the second portion 22000 in a corrugated form or a folded form withone or more folds. Hereinafter, the tobacco sheet 22000 will bedescribed in more detail with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a cross-section of a second portion 22000 ofthe aerosol-generating article 20000 according to an exemplaryembodiment.

The outermost portion of the second portion 22000 may be a wrapper25000. Inside the wrapper 25000, the tobacco sheet 100 described abovemay be included in a corrugated form or a folded form. Referring to FIG.6, the tobacco sheet 100 may be included in a folded form with 8 or morefolds. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. When the tobaccosheet 100 is placed in the second portion 22000 in this manner, airflowmay pass through the second portion 22000 with relatively lowresistance. Accordingly, the aerosol-generating article 20000 may have arelatively low inhalation resistance.

In an embodiment, a cross section taken perpendicular to a lengthdirection of the second portion 22000 may have at least one closed curveformed by the tobacco sheet. Although not shown in FIG. 6, when thetobacco sheet 100 has a corrugated form or is folded one or more times,at least one closed curve may be formed by two portions contacting eachother. A continuous airflow may be formed in the closed curves formed bythe tobacco sheet 100, and accordingly, the airflow may pass through thesecond portion 22000 with relatively low resistance. Thus, theaerosol-generating article 20000 may have a relatively low inhalationresistance.

In an embodiment, the aerosol-generating article 20000 may have aninhalation resistance of about 20 to about 60 mm H₂O. The inhalationresistance of about 20 to about 60 mm H₂O is deemed a relatively lowvalue in the art, which allows a user to smoothly inhale the aerosol. Asa result, a user may feel an excellent smoking feeling with respect tothe aerosol-generating article 20000.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating how heat is transferred in cuttobacco, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating how heat is transferred in acontinuous tobacco sheet, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7A, when the aerosol-generating article includes atobacco material in the form of cut tobacco, it can be seen that heattransferred from the wrapper is discontinuously transferred between thetobacco materials. In contrast, referring to FIG. 7B, when the secondportion 22000 of the aerosol-generating article includes a tobaccomaterial in the form of a tobacco sheet, it may be seen that the heattransferred from the wrapper 25000 is continuously transferred withinthe tobacco sheet 200. As a result, the tobacco sheet 200 may beeffectively heated, and a user may feel an excellent smoking feelingwith respect to the aerosol-generating article 20000.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating air flow in cut tobacco.

FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating air flow in one continuous tobaccosheet.

Referring to FIG. 8A, when the aerosol-generating article includes atobacco material in the form of cut tobacco pieces, it may be seen thatthe aerosol generated by heating forms a congested airflow between thecut tobacco pieces.

In contrast, referring to FIG. 8B, the second portion 22000 of theaerosol-generating article according to the embodiment includes onetobacco sheet 300, and the aerosol forms a straight airflow beside thetobacco sheet 300. Thus, the airflow may pass through the second portion22000 with relatively low resistance, compared to FIG. 8A. Thus, theaerosol-generating article 20000 may have relatively low inhalationresistance, and a user may feel an excellent smoking feeling withrespect to the aerosol-generating article 20000.

According to an embodiment, an aerosol-generating system may include theabove-described aerosol-generating article 20000 and anaerosol-generating device (not shown) which heats at least one of thefirst portion 21000 and the second portion 22000 of theaerosol-generating article 20000.

The features described above with respect to the generating article20000 may be applied to the aerosol generating article included in theaerosol-generating system.

In an embodiment, the second portion 22000 may include a tobacco sheetthat is folded one or more times, and the aerosol-generating device maygenerate an aerosol by heating at least a portion of the first portion21000 and at least a portion of the second portion 22000.

At least one of the components, elements, modules or units (collectively“components” in this paragraph) represented by a block in the drawings,such as the controller 12000 in FIGS. 1-3, may be embodied as variousnumbers of hardware, software and/or firmware structures that executerespective functions described above, according to an exemplaryembodiment. For example, at least one of these components may use adirect circuit structure, such as a memory, a processor, a logiccircuit, a look-up table, etc. that may execute the respective functionsthrough controls of one or more microprocessors or other controlapparatuses. Also, at least one of these components may be specificallyembodied by a module, a program, or a part of code, which contains oneor more executable instructions for performing specified logicfunctions, and executed by one or more microprocessors or other controlapparatuses. Further, at least one of these components may include ormay be implemented by a processor such as a central processing unit(CPU) that performs the respective functions, a microprocessor, or thelike. Two or more of these components may be combined into one singlecomponent which performs all operations or functions of the combined twoor more components. Also, at least part of functions of at least one ofthese components may be performed by another of these components.Further, although a bus is not illustrated in the above block diagrams,communication between the components may be performed through the bus.Functional aspects of the above exemplary embodiments may be implementedin algorithms that execute on one or more processors.

Furthermore, the components represented by a block or processing stepsmay employ any number of related art techniques for electronicsconfiguration, signal processing and/or control, data processing and thelike.

The descriptions of the above-described embodiments are merely examples,and it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art thatvarious changes and equivalents thereof may be made. Therefore, thescope of the disclosure should be defined by the appended claims, andall differences within the scope equivalent to those described in theclaims will be construed as being included in the scope of protectiondefined by the claims.

1. An aerosol-generating article comprising: a first portion includingan aerosol-generating material; a second portion including a tobaccomaterial in a form of a tobacco sheet; a third portion configured tocool airflow which has passed through the first portion and the secondportion; and a fourth portion including a filter material, wherein thefirst portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourthportion are sequentially arranged in a length direction of theaerosol-generating article.
 2. The aerosol-generating article of claim1, wherein the tobacco sheet has a rectangular shape, and a ratio of avertical length to a horizontal length of the tobacco sheet is 10:1 to30:1.
 3. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein the tobaccosheet is corrugated or folded.
 4. The aerosol-generating article ofclaim 1, wherein the tobacco sheet has a length of 180 mm or more in onedirection.
 5. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein thesecond portion includes a plurality of tobacco sheets.
 6. Theaerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein the tobacco sheetincludes 75 to 85 parts by weight of tobacco leaves, 5 to 20 parts byweight of a moisturizer, 3 to 10 parts by weight of pulp, and 3 to 10parts by weight of a viscosity agent, based on a total of 100 parts byweight.
 7. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein theaerosol-generating article has an inhalation resistance of 20 to 60 mmH₂O.
 8. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein a crosssection taken perpendicular to the length direction has at least oneclosed curve formed by the tobacco sheet.
 9. An aerosol generatingsystem comprising: the aerosol-generating article of claim 1; and anaerosol-generating device configured to heat at least one of the firstportion and the second portion of the aerosol-generating article. 10.The aerosol generating system of claim 9, wherein the second portionincludes a tobacco sheet in a folded form, and the aerosol-generatingdevice generates an aerosol by heating at least part of the firstportion and at least part of the second portion.